As we gear up for the big kick off at Blackburn tonight, Chris Wathan previews the season ahead and predicts an opening day defeat for the Bluebirds.

It may have only been little more than three weeks since the football finished in Brazil, but the glamour of the World Cup is not the same of the fantastic grind of the domestic season.

And Cardiff City fans’ summer will have seemed to have dragged on more time than usual. It has been close to three months since Chelsea dealt the final blow of an historic yet often horrible debut in the Premier League campaign.

As he prepares to make his way to Ewood Park for the big kick-off, we caught up with Football Correspondent Chris Wathan and got his thoughts on how he sees the next nine months panning out... and whether good things are about to come to those who wait.

Q: So the season is upon us. Can there be excitement again for Cardiff City fans following a tortuous Premier League campaign?

CW: Of course – if you can’t be excited by the start of a new season you never will, that’s what makes that first game in August so special every year no matter what went on the season before.

Some fans get to hold onto that buzz for a few months or a few weeks, some get 15 minutes. But before kick-off everyone’s equal.

Q: But some sides are more equal than others, especially those just relegated from the Premier League. Surely Cardiff have more reason for optimism than many of their rivals?

CW: They do and given the turbulence of last year it’s been a fairly positive summer for Cardiff. While some key players have gone – Caulker, Mutch, Medel and Campbell – you have to say it’s been good business by the Bluebirds after countless years where questionable decisions have been made on that front.

Give or take a few million the club has made its money back on expensive signings who would have been like bears with sore heads in the Championship, strengthening with some important arrivals that haven’t cost the earth and retained a core of players with good Championship experience.

The squad has a depth in numbers at least– vital over the traditional Championship slog – and players, regardless of what happened last year, are good enough to make a significant impact in the Championship.

Plus, we’ve not heard a lot from Vincent Tan which given the events of last year can’t be considered a bad thing.

Vincent Tan

Q: Plenty of reasons to be cheerful, then?

CW: Yes, but don’t get carried away. I like the acquisition of Adam le Fondre who I think could be a real hit and a poacher that Cardiff have not had in some time.

Kagisho Dikgacoi could be important if he replicates his ball-winning protection of the defence with others in midfield who can provide the more dynamic play needed.

Holding onto David Marshall could be worth more than a few points and you can bet a few strikers will be a little fearful of their chances of beating him before they step foot on the pitch if they watched one or two Match of the Day episodes last week.

But, there are buts. The balance of the squad worries me with a lack of width or much pace concerning. And the defence that looked atrocious at times at the end of the season and shipped 74 goals has been weakened rather than strengthened.

It’s great that there’s a want to play positive football, but there must be a solid foundation to it. On top of that, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to right a wrong in terms of a defeatist attitude that increasingly crept into games as well as prove himself as a manager.

Q: Speaking of which, the jury is still out for many Cardiff fans on Solskjaer. What does Ole need to do to convince them?

CW: The simple answer is win games: misgivings are forgiven when the points are being racked up and the team are swatting aside their rivals.

But it’s what he has to do in order to make that happen which will ultimately decide it. For me, Solskjaer has to settle on what he wants to do with this team and stick with it.

Whether people agree or not, Solskjaer has to put his neck on the line, believe in his methods and stick to his guns.

Too many times last year he appeared indecisive, never seemed to settle on his strongest side and changed tactics and instructions with the wind without really getting the basics right.

He came in with a reputation for possession, offensive football and I think fans will forgive if they see signs of a side coming together with a clear plan in a difficult run of opening fixtures.

If the chopping and changing continues then doubts will only grow. And not just with fans and pundits – players too.

CW: We’re about to find out. There was a large amount of generosity given to Solskjaer last season despite his management style never getting off the ground.

It was accepted trying to change things midway through a season and against the backdrop of the rebrand and Mackay mess put a likeable individual in a difficult, if not impossible position.

A line has been drawn under that and there can be no such sympathy if the signs of progress and promise aren’t there.

One big test will be getting the spirit in the squad right. It’s top heavy and strikers are notoriously difficult to keep happy when they’re not playing which immediately points to a problem while speculation over the club captain’s future can never be great for the ranks.

Good managers are more about tactics and transfers so it really is crunch time for Solskjaer to show his ability. He came with a fanfare, glowing references and plenty of support but it’s been difficult to judge Solskjaer from last year – it won’t be this time around.

Q: So, with that in mind, is automatic promotion a realistic target?

CW: It can be, especially with the squad Cardiff have and they will be in the mix if the manager can get it right, show the side have learned the lessons from last year at the back and get those front players firing.

In honesty, though, I think a play-off place is the best hope come next May – and that’s really nothing to sneeze at.

Q: So, if not Cardiff then who? Which sides will be pushing for the Premier League?

CW: You can take your pick, everyone’s a threat. Only fools put money down in this division but I will be accused of fence-sitting if I don’t give my tips.

Scott Heavey/PA Wire

Uwe Rosler

Q: Yes you will!

CW: Okay then, I fancy Wigan to have a real go this year. I’ve been very impressed by Uwe Rosler and he has got Wigan playing a good blend of football that should serve them well again.

Norwich probably have the strength to go for the other automatic place given the players they’ve kept hold of and brought in.

Promotion specialist Mick McCarthy has put down the ground work at Ipswich to suggest a challenge this time and Watford appear to have done well in the transfer window and have plenty of goals in there.

Brentford and Wolves could use the momentum from last year’s promotion from League One.

Q: Who can Cardiff turn to if they are to stop that lot then?

CW: Mats Moller Daehli should be able to grow with games, regardless of division and seeing who steps up to the plate in terms of the striker will be interesting. Marshall is a given and Peter Whittingham will have to take greater responsibility with Mutch having moved on. Seeing Tom Adeyemi after good reports from his time at Birmingham will be interesting.

Q: What about the sides to drop?

CW: Again, there’s a few but Blackpool look obvious contenders given they’re still scratching around for a side, Millwall may find it too much of a struggle this year despite Ian Holloway’s guidance and Birmingham can’t keep selling without eventually dropping.

Q: We’ll wait and see. Enough of the predictions for the season, what’s the prediction for Blackburn v Cardiff?

CW: Well without wanting to deflate the optimism, I believe Cardiff aren’t yet settled enough to hit the ground running away to a Blackburn side that have seem to put their own problems after relegation behind them.

Jordan Rhodes will give the defence a good early test but I fear an opening day defeat for Solskjaer – and with the run of games ahead it’s not going to get easier.

The challenge is for the manager to show it’s something he and the team can overcome.

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